Grand Ledge Elementary School Gets the Lead Out

Lead in the drinking water at a Grand Ledge school has prompted officials to replace fixtures throughout the building.

According to the Lansing State Journal, Grand Ledge Public Schools said maintenance staff started replacing drinking faucets and shutoff valves at Willow Ridge Elementary.

Testing found slightly higher than recommended levels of lead in the water. The district said an Aug. 20 water sample had 29 parts per billion of lead, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires action at levels above 15 parts per billion.

Bottled water will be available for students and staff at the school until new water tests come back clean. The school will replace more than 85 fixtures at Willow Ridge.

Eight faucets were tested at the school earlier last week, and two fixtures in classrooms came back with levels of lead. Drinking faucets in hallways and kitchens came back clean.